Mexican Boxers Out to Turn the Table on Santisima and Cataraja
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 21 Nov 2018
CEBU ? Visiting Mexican boxers Victor Uriel Lopez and Victor Hugo Reyes have promised and to become victorious against their Filipino rivals Jeo Santisima and Kevin Jake Cataraja respectively this coming Saturday on Pinoy Pride 45 at the IEC Convention Center here.
Speaking in front of the local media at St Mark?s Hotel Tuesday, both Mexican warriors appeared confident and even jovial and eagerly looking forward to their respective WBO title fights.
Lopez ( 13-6-1, 6KOs) the current WBC Latino super bantamweight champion, promised a knockout victory over Santisima.
?We know how hard it is to win by decision in your opponent?s backyard so we come here specifically with the aim to win by knockout,? Lopez told the local scribes through an interpreter.
Lopez went to Japan on May 8, 2016 to face then undefeated 17-win Ryo Matsumoto whom he stopped in 5 rounds. He lost to Matsumoto by 6th round TKO in their rematch on Dec. 30, 2016.
Lopez and his manager Antonio Lozada, said they grabbed the opportunity to fight for the WBO title knowing that a victory will put them in the Top 15 world rankings and put them nearer to their goal of fighting for a world title. Lozada also expressed his misgivings to the WBC by not putting Lopez in the Top 15 in world rankings even though Lopez holds the prestigious WBC Latino title.
L-R: Reyes's trainer David Padilla, Victor Hugo Reyes, Antonio Lozada, Victor Uriel Lopez, George Krampah and Krampah's trainer Frank Asante during Tuesday's presscon at St. Mark's Hotel in Cebu City.
Reyes (9-1-1, 7KOs) for his part, showed not a trace of apprehension in facing the undefeated Cataraja whom he will face for the vacant WBO Youth super flightweight title. On the contrary, he showed extreme confidence that he will go back home with the WBO belt.
?I watch his [Cataraja] fights on YouTube and yes, he is a very good fighter, and yes, he has power. Having seen that, it makes me extremely motivated. My emotions come out on being able to face this fighter,? said the Tijuana based Reyes who belonged to the Erik Morales stable of boxers.
Hugo who is nicknamed ?Scarface? also revealed that he was called as such not because ?I looked like Al Pacino. I wish I was. But on my very first fight I got headbutted on my cheek that left a big scar that has now healed.?
Lozada, a many time Philippine visitor who manages Lopez and Reyes, reiterated that they come to Cebu ?not because we just want to pick up our check but we come here to win and fight for the titles to get to the world rankings. We promise the fans they will see very good fights because my boxers will put everything on the line. They will try to win by knockouts but if the knockouts will not come, I hope the judges will be fair to award the fight to the real winner.?
Meanwhile George Krampah (14-3-0, 12KOs) of Ghana who will challenge Albert Pagara?s WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title, said they have studied carefully Pagara?s fights and they have formulated a plan how to defeat Pagara who has a sterling record of 30 wins with only one defeat and who once held a lofty world ranking before his crushing defeat to Mexico?s Cesar Juarez two years ago.
Krampah fought and lost to compatriot Isaac Dogboe who is now the king and star of the super bantamweight having stopped Juarez, former champion Jesse Magdaleno and Japan?s Hedinori Otake in succession. Krampah said he took the Dogboe fight in two weeks and felt he could have win the fight if he had prepared longer. Krampah lost to Dogboe by 7th round TKO.
Krampah and Pagara as well as Lopez and Santisima are aiming for Dogboe?s belt if they win Saturday night.
On Thursday, Lopez, Reyes and Krampah will come face to face against Santisima, Cataraja and Pagara in the event's final press conference to be held at the Summit Circle Hotel along Fuente Osmena.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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